The clinical risks of medical tourism are worth understanding before booking cheaper surgery overseas, especially as more Australians are tempted by lower prices and shorter wait times. Procedures like cosmetic surgery and dental work are the most common reasons people travel.
This article looks at the main health risks involved in going overseas for treatment, along with the financial and legal issues that often catch people by surprise. It is general information only and does not replace personal advice from your doctor.
What Is Medical Tourism
Medical tourism describes travelling to another country specifically to receive medical or surgical treatment. In Australia, this most often involves cosmetic surgery, dental work, bariatric surgery and some orthopaedic procedures.
Each year, thousands of Australians travel overseas for these procedures, drawn by lower costs and the chance to combine treatment with a holiday. Smartraveller notes that popular destinations include Turkey, Thailand, Mexico and parts of South-East Asia.
Why Australians Consider Treatment Overseas
Cost is consistently the biggest driver. A procedure that costs many thousands of dollars in Australia may be advertised at a fraction of the price overseas, sometimes bundled with flights and accommodation.
Shorter waiting times and the appeal of recovering somewhere warm and scenic also play a role, particularly for cosmetic procedures. Some people also travel for treatments that are harder to access in Australia, such as certain dental work or fertility treatments.
The Clinical Risks of Medical Tourism
While many overseas clinics provide good care, the clinical risks of medical tourism are real and have been raised repeatedly by Australian medical bodies. Better Health Channel reports that the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons both warn against medical tourism because of these risks.
Infection and Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Surgical infection is a known risk of any operation, but it can be harder to manage overseas. According to the Royal Australian College of GPs, medical tourism has been linked to multidrug resistant bacteria, including strains that are difficult to treat with standard antibiotics available in Australia.
Travelling to a country with different bacteria in hospitals and the wider environment means your body may have no natural resistance to local strains. This is one reason some Australians return home with infections that are slower to diagnose and harder to treat than those typically seen after surgery performed locally.
Blood Clots and Travelling Soon After Surgery
Flying soon after surgery adds another layer of risk. According to healthdirect, the risk of deep vein thrombosis roughly doubles after a long-haul flight, and this risk is higher again for anyone who has recently had major surgery.
A blood clot that forms in the leg can potentially travel to the lungs, which is a serious and sometimes life threatening complication.
Inconsistent Standards and Accreditation
Training, registration and hospital accreditation standards vary significantly between countries. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that the qualifications required to practise as a surgeon overseas may be quite different to the standards expected in Australia.
This makes it difficult for patients to judge the true skill level of a surgeon or the safety of a facility from overseas marketing material alone. Glossy websites and patient testimonials are not the same as independent accreditation.
Gaps in Follow Up Care
Good aftercare is part of any safe surgical recovery, including monitoring for complications and access to the original surgical team if something goes wrong. This is one of the clinical risks of medical tourism that is easy to overlook while booking a trip.
Once a patient returns home, ongoing care from the original overseas provider is usually no longer practical. Any complications generally need to be managed by a new doctor in Australia, often at additional cost and without full access to the original medical records.
This gap in continuity of care is one of the more practical clinical risks of medical tourism, because it can delay treatment at exactly the time it is needed most.
Financial and Legal Risks
Beyond the clinical risks of medical tourism, there are practical issues that can catch travellers off guard. Before booking treatment overseas, it is worth considering:
- Whether your travel insurance actually covers complications from a planned medical procedure
- What it would cost to extend your stay or fly home again if recovery takes longer than expected
- How you would pursue a complaint or legal action under a different country’s health system
- Whether Medicare or your private health insurer will cover any follow up treatment back in Australia
- Who would support you and make decisions on your behalf if something went wrong
Smartraveller warns that standard travel insurance policies often exclude medical tourism, and that a medical evacuation back to Australia can be extremely costly if complications cannot be managed overseas.
Conclusion
Medical tourism can offer genuine savings, but the clinical risks of medical tourism, from infection and blood clots to limited follow-up care, are worth weighing carefully against the upfront cost savings. Speaking with your GP before you travel can help you understand what to look out for and how to prepare.
If you are considering treatment overseas, or want a second opinion before committing, you can search medicine.com.au to find GPs, surgeons and other specialists across Australia’s major cities who can talk you through your options.
FAQs
1. Is medical tourism ever a safe option for Australians?
Many people travel overseas for treatment without complications, but outcomes can vary widely between countries and providers. Speaking with your GP beforehand and researching the facility and surgeon thoroughly can help you make a more informed decision.
2. What are the most common complications linked to medical tourism?
Commonly reported complications include surgical site infections, poor wound healing, unsatisfactory results, and in some cases serious or life-threatening events. Limited follow-up care can make these complications harder to manage once you return home.
3. Does travel insurance cover cosmetic surgery overseas?
Standard travel insurance policies generally do not cover complications from planned cosmetic or medical procedures. Specialised medical tourism insurance exists, but it is important to read the product disclosure statement carefully before relying on it.
4. Can I get follow up care in Australia if something goes wrong overseas?
Yes, Australian doctors can treat complications from overseas procedures, but this usually means starting again with a new surgical team and paying out of pocket. Medicare and private health insurance do not always cover the cost of fixing problems from a procedure performed overseas.
5. What questions should I ask before booking a procedure overseas?
Ask about the surgeon’s qualifications and registration, the hospital’s accreditation, what aftercare is included, and how complications are managed. It also helps to ask what would happen, financially and medically, if you needed urgent care after returning to Australia.